24th Annual Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge at Killington

KILLINGTON, Vt. March 15, 2004 - The event that for decades has taken tailgating to new heights is back. For the 200 amateur mogul and freestyle skiers who think they have mastered the bumps, the 24th Annual Budweiser Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge on April 3-4, 2004, sets the stage where you go big-or go home.

Outer Limits, the steepest mogul slope in eastern North America, covering 1,200 feet of vertical in a half a mile, has been the training ground for 1992 Olympic Freestyle Champion Donna Weinbrecht, and 2002 Olympic team members Hannah Hardaway and Evan Dybvig. Each year 200 amateur bumpers line up to show their stuff in this inaugural spring event, while spectators relax in the sun at the bottom of the trail on lawn chairs and sofas with barbecue grills and coolers in tow, ready to officially celebrate the rites of spring skiing. (Yes, there's even a cook-off in the crowd too, complete with trophies.)

Skiers tackle Outer Limits in seven different age categories for both men and women. Skiers are judged on turns and line (50%), air (25%) and speed (25%). Starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, competitors each get one run. The top 32 men and 16 women will return to compete in a dual format on Sunday starting at 11 a.m. Pairs of competitors run a dual course with sudden death format; only the winners remain. Awards are presented to the first, second, third, and fourth place finishes for both men and women. These winners' names are engraved on the Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge trophy.

Registration is $50, and lift tickets are not included (a specially-priced 2-day lift ticket is offered to competitors). Early preregistration is required. Only the first 200 prepaid registrants will be entered for competition. For more information and an entry form, visit the events page at killington.com or call (802) 422-1700.